Child support system for a play yard

Abstract

A child support system for infants or small children. The child support system includes a child containment device and at least one child support unit detachably mounted to the child containment device. The child containment device includes a frame, liner and, optionally, a raised bassinet mattress. The at least one child support unit may take the form of a bassinet and/or a changing table. The child containment device frame may be collapsible for storage and transport.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child support system comprising:
 a child containment device defining a containment space bounded by at least one sidewall and a floor;   a first child support unit configured for use in connection with the child containment device mounted to the child containment device in a first position; and   a second child support unit configured for use in connection with the child containment device mounted to the child containment device in a second position, the second child support unit supported at a first subframe component by the first child support unit, and supported at a second subframe component by the child containment device.   
     
     
         2 . The child support system of  claim 1 , wherein the child containment device is a children's play yard comprising four sidewalls and defining a generally rectangular containment space. 
     
     
         3 . The child support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first child support unit is configured for use with or without the second child support unit. 
     
     
         4 . The child support system of  claim 3 , wherein the second child support unit is configured for use only with the first child support unit. 
     
     
         5 . The child support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first child support unit is supported by removable attachment to corner posts of the child containment device. 
     
     
         6 . The child support system of  claim 5 , wherein the second child support unit is supported on the first subframe component by detachable coupling with the first child support unit, and wherein the second child support unit is supported at the second subframe component by a support member extending into contact with the child containment device. 
     
     
         7 . The child support system of  claim 6 , wherein the second child support unit comprises a support sub-frame, and wherein the support member is pivotally coupled to the support sub-frame. 
     
     
         8 . The child support system of  claim 6 , wherein the child containment device comprises a bassinet floor, and wherein the support member of the second child support unit extends into contact with the bassinet floor of the child containment device. 
     
     
         9 . The child support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first child support unit comprises a changing unit, and the second child support unit comprises an infant sleeper unit. 
     
     
         10 . The child support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first subframe component of the second child support unit is supported by the first child support unit by a sliding coupling engaged between the first and second child support units. 
     
     
         11 . The child support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first subframe component of the second child support unit is supported by the first child support unit by a rotational coupling engaged between the first and second child support units. 
     
     
         12 . The child support system of  claim 1 , wherein the first subframe component of the second child support unit is supported by the first child support unit by a detachable coupling engaged between the first and second child support units. 
     
     
         13 . A child support system comprising:
 a children's play yard comprising four corner posts, sidewalls extending between the corner posts, and a floor, the sidewalls and floor defining a generally rectangular containment space within the play yard;   a first child support unit having a first support sub-frame and frame attachment members extending from a first sub-frame component of the first support sub-frame, the frame attachment members configured for attachment to the corner posts of the play yard, and further comprising at least one first detachable coupling element along a second sub-frame component of the first support sub-frame generally opposite the first sub-frame component; and   a second child support unit having a second support sub-frame, at least one second detachable coupling element along a first sub-frame component of the second support sub-frame, and at least one support member at a second sub-frame component of the second support sub-frame;   wherein the first and second detachable coupling elements releasably engage one another to support the first sub-frame component of the second support sub-frame of the second child support unit, and wherein the at least one support member engages the children's play yard to support the second sub-frame component of the second support sub-frame of the second child support unit.   
     
     
         14 . The child support system of  claim 13 , wherein the second child support unit is removable upon disengagement of the second detachable coupling elements from the first detachable coupling elements. 
     
     
         15 . The child support system of  claim 14 , wherein the first child support unit is configured for use with or without the second child support unit. 
     
     
         16 . The child support system of  claim 14 , wherein the second child support unit is configured for use only in connection with the first child support unit. 
     
     
         17 . The child support system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one support member is pivotally coupled to the second support sub-frame. 
     
     
         18 . The child support system of  claim 13 , wherein the children's play yard comprises a bassinet floor, and wherein the at least one support member of the second child support unit extends into contact with the bassinet floor when deployed. 
     
     
         19 . The child support system of  claim 13 , wherein the first child support unit comprises a changing unit, and the second child support unit comprises an infant sleeper unit. 
     
     
         20 . A method of supporting a child in at least first and second positions relative to a children's play yard, the method comprising:
 mounting a first child support unit to the play yard by attaching a first subframe component of the first child support unit to the play yard;   mounting a second child support unit to the play yard by attaching a first subframe component of the second child support unit to the first child support unit, and by supporting a second subframe component of the second child support unit upon the play yard.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first subframe component of the second child support unit is removably attached to the first child support unit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first subframe component of the first child support unit is mounted to corner posts of the play yard. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising use of the first child support unit with or without the second child support unit. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising use of the second child support unit only with the first child support unit. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising removing at least one of the first and second child support units from the play yard.